George Nelson made a prototype of this daybed for his own home in 1941 and later launched it for production through Herman Miller®. As a vintage ad for the piece notes, it’s “ideal for the bedroom that has to double as a sitting room.” This versatile piece features a hardwood platform with rounded edge, comfortable, cushioned seat with Noble Heathered Grey upholstery, and removable back bolsters to convert from couch to bed. It’s perfect for any space that calls for casual flexibility. This version has four hairpin legs. Produced in the USA by Herman Miller®, a manufacturer in MoMA’s collection, from Nelson’s 1950 design.

Reflecting on his remarkable 50-year career, George Nelson described a series of creative "zaps"—moments of out-of-the-blue inspiration. He also believed that furniture should be “a simple, direct expression of construction with existing techniques.” A 1931 graduate of Yale’s School of Fine Arts, Nelson became an architect after graduate school, when building was at a standstill following the Great Depression and World War II. He held the post of director of the Herman Miller furniture company from 1946 to 1965 and became one of the most influential figures in modern American design. He commissioned work by the Eameses, Alexander Girard, and others who made significant contributions to the field. Six examples of Nelson’s designs are included in MoMA’s collection.